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University of Houston
Houston, TX 37,175 Undergrads 62.3% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$25,056
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$13,853
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,377
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$13,853
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$62,377
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate62.3%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients42.0%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time74.1%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS76.1%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
69.5%
SAT Avg
1,229
SAT Reading
25th: 58061575th: 660
SAT Math
25th: 57062075th: 670
ACT Composite
25th: 232675th: 28
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$535k
+$139k
+$51k
Median Cost$14k/yr
+$485k
+$89k
+$1k
Full Cost$25k/yr
+$445k
+$49k
-$39k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
38
∞
Median Cost$14k/yr
63
2%
Full Cost$25k/yr
Never
-43%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return19%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-45%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$71,752
Lifetime Value Added
+$82k
American Sign Language
BachCIP: 1616
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$177k
Anthropology
BachCIP: 4502
Median Debt
$19,125
Earnings (5yr)
$55,286
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Architecture
BachCIP: 0402
Median Debt
$26,125
Earnings (5yr)
$67,721
Lifetime Value Added
+$52k
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology
BachCIP: 2602
Median Debt
$17,640
Earnings (5yr)
$60,121
Lifetime Value Added
-$7k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$17,174
Earnings (5yr)
$62,349
Lifetime Value Added
+$10k
Biomedical/Medical Engineering
BachCIP: 1405
Median Debt
$12,000
Earnings (5yr)
$80,209
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Biotechnology
BachCIP: 2612
Median Debt
$17,250
Earnings (5yr)
$81,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$152k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$16,750
Earnings (5yr)
$74,757
Lifetime Value Added
+$105k
Business/Corporate Communications
BachCIP: 5205
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$64,149
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Chemical Engineering
BachCIP: 1407
Median Debt
$19,228
Earnings (5yr)
$99,077
Lifetime Value Added
+$287k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$12,500
Earnings (5yr)
$74,603
Lifetime Value Added
+$104k
Civil Engineering
BachCIP: 1408
Median Debt
$18,660
Earnings (5yr)
$91,240
Lifetime Value Added
+$228k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$23,205
Earnings (5yr)
$60,207
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
BachCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$16,250
Earnings (5yr)
$56,838
Lifetime Value Added
-$33k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$16,875
Earnings (5yr)
$105,956
Lifetime Value Added
+$338k
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1512
Median Debt
$20,281
Earnings (5yr)
$71,648
Lifetime Value Added
+$81k
Computer Software and Media Applications
BachCIP: 1108
Median Debt
$22,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Computer Systems Analysis
BachCIP: 1105
Median Debt
$24,154
Earnings (5yr)
$87,354
Lifetime Value Added
+$199k
Construction Engineering Technologies
BachCIP: 1510
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$94,660
Lifetime Value Added
+$254k
Design and Applied Arts
BachCIP: 5004
Median Debt
$24,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,210
Lifetime Value Added
+$25k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$16,478
Lifetime Value Added
-$367k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
$16,625
Earnings (5yr)
$74,425
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1503
Median Debt
$22,875
Earnings (5yr)
$92,134
Lifetime Value Added
+$235k
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering
BachCIP: 1410
Median Debt
$22,625
Earnings (5yr)
$107,025
Lifetime Value Added
+$346k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,077
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
BachCIP: 5207
Median Debt
$10,875
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$206k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services
BachCIP: 1902
Median Debt
$18,548
Earnings (5yr)
$57,782
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
BachCIP: 5006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$36,529
Lifetime Value Added
-$202k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$15,611
Earnings (5yr)
$80,588
Lifetime Value Added
+$148k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$44,142
Lifetime Value Added
-$138k
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1905
Median Debt
$18,475
Earnings (5yr)
$55,177
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
General Sales, Merchandising and Related Marketing Operations
BachCIP: 5218
Median Debt
$22,138
Earnings (5yr)
$74,478
Lifetime Value Added
+$103k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$24,875
Earnings (5yr)
$71,224
Lifetime Value Added
+$78k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$20,276
Earnings (5yr)
$57,412
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
BachCIP: 5100
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$54,841
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$54,902
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Hospitality Administration/Management
BachCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,879
Lifetime Value Added
-$73k
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
BachCIP: 1907
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$47,975
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Human Resources Management and Services
BachCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$20,179
Earnings (5yr)
$63,301
Lifetime Value Added
+$18k
Industrial Engineering
BachCIP: 1435
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$100,544
Lifetime Value Added
+$298k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$103,467
Lifetime Value Added
+$320k
Journalism
BachCIP: 0904
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$49,505
Lifetime Value Added
-$93k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$18,248
Earnings (5yr)
$52,064
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Management Information Systems and Services
BachCIP: 5212
Median Debt
$15,375
Earnings (5yr)
$84,336
Lifetime Value Added
+$177k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$15,250
Earnings (5yr)
$65,181
Lifetime Value Added
+$32k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$18,000
Earnings (5yr)
$64,880
Lifetime Value Added
+$30k
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
BachCIP: 1508
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (5yr)
$83,231
Lifetime Value Added
+$168k
Mechanical Engineering
BachCIP: 1419
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$96,269
Lifetime Value Added
+$266k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$18,634
Earnings (5yr)
$58,563
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$58,649
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,737
Lifetime Value Added
-$58k
Petroleum Engineering
BachCIP: 1425
Median Debt
$22,233
Earnings (5yr)
$88,652
Lifetime Value Added
+$209k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
$24,200
Earnings (2yr)
$29,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$245k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$17,355
Earnings (5yr)
$61,848
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$18,213
Earnings (5yr)
$52,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$72k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
BachCIP: 0909
Median Debt
$18,750
Earnings (5yr)
$57,785
Lifetime Value Added
-$26k
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
BachCIP: 0907
Median Debt
$18,730
Earnings (5yr)
$46,787
Lifetime Value Added
-$115k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$19,131
Earnings (5yr)
$90,501
Lifetime Value Added
+$223k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
BachCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$45,939
Lifetime Value Added
-$123k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
$18,375
Earnings (5yr)
$56,653
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$14,000
Earnings (5yr)
$56,477
Lifetime Value Added
-$36k
Master's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
MastCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$99,339
Lifetime Value Added
+$408k
Architecture
MastCIP: 0402
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$74,665
Lifetime Value Added
+$196k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$41,000
Earnings (5yr)
$130,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$673k
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
MastCIP: 5102
Median Debt
$38,484
Earnings (5yr)
$71,029
Lifetime Value Added
+$165k
Curriculum and Instruction
MastCIP: 1303
Median Debt
$28,093
Earnings (5yr)
$68,364
Lifetime Value Added
+$142k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
MastCIP: 5005
Median Debt
$27,581
Earnings (5yr)
$54,968
Lifetime Value Added
+$21k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$66,099
Lifetime Value Added
+$122k
Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences Business Services
MastCIP: 1902
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$57,318
Lifetime Value Added
+$75k
Finance and Financial Management Services
MastCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$122,038
Lifetime Value Added
+$666k
Fine and Studio Arts
MastCIP: 5007
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$30,409
Lifetime Value Added
-$197k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
MastCIP: 4006
Median Debt
$34,875
Earnings (5yr)
$110,977
Lifetime Value Added
+$508k
Hospitality Administration/Management
MastCIP: 5209
Median Debt
$23,500
Earnings (5yr)
$77,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$222k
Human Resources Management and Services
MastCIP: 5210
Median Debt
$21,525
Earnings (5yr)
$76,446
Lifetime Value Added
+$212k
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies
MastCIP: 2202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$97,668
Lifetime Value Added
+$394k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$54,644
Lifetime Value Added
+$49k
Mechanical Engineering
MastCIP: 1419
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$69,338
Lifetime Value Added
+$187k
Music
MastCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$52,249
Lifetime Value Added
-$4k
Petroleum Engineering
MastCIP: 1425
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$82,440
Lifetime Value Added
+$306k
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication
MastCIP: 0909
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$48,432
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
MastCIP: 2313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$44,384
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$39,264
Earnings (5yr)
$62,582
Lifetime Value Added
+$91k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$33,028
Earnings (5yr)
$63,159
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Doctoral Degrees
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
DocCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$102,171
Lifetime Value Added
+$262k
Curriculum and Instruction
DocCIP: 1303
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,984
Lifetime Value Added
-$69k
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$46,405
Earnings (5yr)
$120,612
Lifetime Value Added
+$396k
History
DocCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$37,208
Lifetime Value Added
-$213k
Music
DocCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$43,798
Lifetime Value Added
-$155k
Professional Degrees
Law
ProfCIP: 2201
Median Debt
$86,372
Earnings (5yr)
$123,404
Lifetime Value Added
+$416k
Optometry
ProfCIP: 5117
Median Debt
$164,167
Earnings (5yr)
$110,688
Lifetime Value Added
+$324k
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration
ProfCIP: 5120
Median Debt
$127,984
Earnings (5yr)
$138,025
Lifetime Value Added
+$521k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.